Getting hopped up on brewing
Dec 4, 2014 | Laurie Snell | Kitchener Post | LINK
Quote:If there ever was any doubt about the popularity of craft beer, Together We’re Bitter just proved it’s all the rage in this city.
“This is a market that is ready for it and underserved in terms of craft beer,” said Aleksandra Szaflarska, co-owner and worker of Together We’re Bitter Co-operative Brewing, or TWB.
“People who like craft beer tend to want to try different flavours,” she said.
They already have several recipes under their belt, but in order to keep those batches brewing, they needed an additional fermenter to try out new flavours to expand their brand.
“What I’d like to do is develop … something that is unique enough to call our own,” Culum Canally, the TWB brewer, said.
With that, The People’s Fermenter, a Kickstarter campaign to raise $10,000 for a new fermenter, was born. By understanding the craft beer popularity, the campaign — which was an all-or-nothing format — seemed to be low-risk with a good pay-off for the purchase.
Unsurprisingly, it took just eight short days before they reached their goal — and then some. As of Dec. 4, the campaign raised more than $13,000, and donors will receive TWB merchandise, dependent on donation amounts, as promised.
The additional contributions will allow the purchasing of extra barrels to start their barrel-aging program right away.
But brewing batches of one-of-a-kind beer isn’t the only goal. The team is actively searching for a site to launch a quirky brew pub in the downtown core. The location needs to have durable, cement floors to hold heavy equipment and be within proper zoning — something far more difficult than it sounds.
Being a co-operative model maintains the team effort because, “nobody has an inordinate say of who runs the company … to make sure everything keeps running in a very transparent, democratic manor,” Canally said. He added that the idea for a co-operative brew pub, rather than a more traditional business model came from his experiences with wage discrepancies in the tourism and development field.
“We wanted to have a co-operatively owned business where the goal is to make good paying jobs, instead of having one person make all the money and decisions … (this way) workers get paid well and we can grow the business in a sustainable manor,” Canally said.
Lindsay Woodside, the company’s president, told the Post, “(TWB) fits very well for the existing redevelopment plans that they have taking place in the city right now…it’s really just one of those core elements of the arts and entertainment cluster that would really fit well within the core,” Woodside said.
Until the location has been locked down, Together We’re Bitter will continue brewing out of its Guelph Street home, which is serving as a base, in Kitchener. They plan to open in the brew pub in the summer of 2015.
It's amazing the rapid increase in craft brewing in the last 5-6 years. The choices in this region are really starting to multiply and it seems that some of the restaurants are starting to catch up. It would be nice to step outside the control that the LCBO maintains and have a place to buy local brews, outside of visiting each specific brewery. One thing I have noticed is that the potency of the craft beers creeps up pretty quickly. Many are pushing the 6% and higher limit, which presents a new set of concerns in going out to have more than one or two. All in all though, being a dedicated craft beer drinker, times are getting better by the day.
Heh, I'm rather enjoying the potency of all these craft brews lately...
(12-05-2014, 09:38 AM)schooner77 Wrote: [ -> ]It would be nice to step outside the control that the LCBO maintains and have a place to buy local brews, outside of visiting each specific brewery.
I pray for the day.
Liquor regulations in Ontario are senseless. Mike Harris started loosening them bit by bit and McGuinty continued but they still have a ways to go. Most other nations on earth seem to be able to cope with people having a beer during a picnic. Why not us?
It's hard not to be cynical, but I'm wondering if the new regulations with the Beer Store in including local craft brews will make a difference. Has anyone talked to Block3, Innocente or any of the other local guys to get their side of the story?
CKCO spoke with Block3 the day of the announcement and they really had no idea what was involved. It really seems to be a bit of window dressing (a non-ownership "share" of the Beer Store at a modest cost and the right to sell two brands in the five closest Beer Store). Changes to the Beer Store model seem inevitable (I believe the Province has signalled as much).
With respect to TWB, has anyone heard anything about what's happening in terms of the timing/location of an operation?
It's pretty simple. The beer store is not run by the government, but by a private company -- even if it is a partnership; it's private. There is no reason to continue with the beer store. Based on this information, is it not a logical consideration that any private company can sell beer based on the same legislative requirements the beer store meets?
I suggest there should be no appetite for local brewers to 'partner' with the beer store. I suggest the beer store now compete against 7-11, Forewells, Zehr's etc... there is no reason whatsoever that a brewer be the only one who can sell beer.
And on that topic, let me slide into a rant. The other night I went to the LCBO at 5:02PM. Because it was Sunday, the 'guard' at the door wouldn't let me in. Really? 5PM is the last chance we have to buy liquor? I find that absurd, unmodern and not the recent result of any kind of democratic thought.
I'm still on the fence wrt beer (I have no problem at all with the LCBO). While I would like to see some opening of beer sales beyond the Beer Store, I wonder whether the Province couldn't suck more much-needed revenue out of the operation by imposing a royalty on sales. I suspect the Province could pull in 10% of sales, without affecting the price of beer, if the measure were combined with measures to increase competition. The reported "sweet deal" between the Beer Store and the LCBO restricting the latter to the sale of six-packs needs to go, the sooner the better.
(01-08-2015, 05:30 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]CKCO spoke with Block3 the day of the announcement and they really had no idea what was involved. It really seems to be a bit of window dressing (a non-ownership "share" of the Beer Store at a modest cost and the right to sell two brands in the five closest Beer Store). Changes to the Beer Store model seem inevitable (I believe the Province has signalled as much).
With respect to TWB, has anyone heard anything about what's happening in terms of the timing/location of an operation?
Hey Panamaniac, Rob Shorney here (member of TWB). We're in the final stages of securing a location in the downtown core. I would tell you which building, but I've been sworn to secrecy
At this point, I don't even want to guess at a timeline as I've been humbled several times during this process. We've all been working our arses off to move this forward as quick as possible. That being said, we're focused on getting this right, and setting up a brewery that will have longevity in the community.
Hope to pour you pint in 2015!
Hmmm. I love a mystery. I'm going to have to wander the Downtown looking for a vacant space with the cement floor I think you require, if I recall correctly!
(01-08-2015, 06:58 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]I'm still on the fence wrt beer (I have no problem at all with the LCBO). While I would like to see some opening of beer sales beyond the Beer Store, I wonder whether the Province couldn't suck more much-needed revenue out of the operation by imposing a royalty on sales. I suspect the Province could pull in 10% of sales, without affecting the price of beer, if the measure were combined with measures to increase competition. The reported "sweet deal" between the Beer Store and the LCBO restricting the latter to the sale of six-packs needs to go, the sooner the better.
Seeing as the LCBO can sell beer, to maximize the profit you are suggesting they would simply withdraw the Beer store's ability to sell beer and that would be it. They would be the sole seller of take out alcohol in the province.
For anyone else that is interested, please visit this
link to view a documentary largely produced in our region about this subject. I funded it on kickstarter and I am impressed with the finished product, but not happy with the way the province operates.
No, I wasn't suggesting that. I would like the LCBO to be able to sell 12 packs rather than being limited to 6 packs by an anti-competitive agreement as at present (I don't think their infrastructure would allow for 24's).
"Hi, I'm Ed from the government and I'm here to help you..."
Privatization czar Ed Clark to meet with big brewers on future of The Beer Store
Quote:Ed Clark, Premier Kathleen Wynne’s privatization czar, will soon meet with brass at the major breweries to discuss the future of the Beer Store, the Star has learned.
But officials with Labatt, Molson, and Sleeman might want to bring their chequebooks as Clark has already warned them that Queen’s Park is expecting a “franchise fee” — among other concessions — if the 448-outlet private monopoly is to remain intact.